Often, when we visit another country, we are surprised to learn that people have different habits and they live differently than we do. It is especially shocking, when you visit a country, which is very different culturally from your own? Visiting a country in Europe does not make us too astonished. But when we go to Asia or Africa, we may find the customs and behaviors of people very strange. In my opinion, for visitors from the USA and from European countries, Poland visiting Poland should not be very shocking. Our cultures are similar. Nevertheless, there are many things, which foreigners find very difficult to understand.
Western Europeans are surprised that Polish people are so hospitable. We like receiving guests and we take care of them. On the West, people do not put so much attention to hospitality. Many people are surprised that we drink so much alcohol. It is not good, when the foreigners associate Polish people with vodka only. I can only hope that the situation is getting better and that Polish people do not drink exceptionally much alcohol. Another thing, which surprises many people, is the condition of our roads. It is really very poor. There are thousands of dangerous holes in it, we have no highways and it is very difficult to get from one place to another quickly. Moreover, our public transport does not work well enough. The trains are old, dirty, slow and relatively expensive. Traveling around Poland may be truly problematic.
People are also surprised that in Poland so many people go to church regularly. The foreigners are not as religious as we are. Some people find Polish food disgusting and they do not want to stay in our country for longer time.
